Statements

Hi Folks

If the RSPCA is contacting the person who reported you to them, are they likely to be asking them to make statements against you to strengthen the case?

Hi Rich, hope you are OK.
Well, you were shopped by your liveries, same thing happened to me, they were there to let them in, the lot. I certainly would not have trusted the ones who reported me as far as I could throw them, in fact there was only one person I trusted implicitly and another guy who I believe was not actually involved but knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it...ie he could have warned me but chose not to get involved. But you can bet your life Rich that they are trying to get more evidence, obviously they are a bit miffed that your vet is supporting you ( ) and what they will do, if the people who reported you did not originally say a lot, is put words into their mouths: eg...you and the informants may never normally have gone to the yard at the same time (people have different schedules). You may have been there in the morning to muck out and turn out. The informants may have normally been there pm. So the RSPCA will say how the informants never saw you mucking out (implying that the horse was up to its eyes in sh**) when in fact the informants were simply not there at the time you would have been doing the stable. Do not trust anyone in the yard, I know what small-minded and back-stabbing swine they are. Did you evict the ones who shopped you?
My freply is a resounding yes, they are trying to get more information. if they really wanted to hear good things about you why would they ask people who had landed you in it? They would surely ask another livery who has to date said nothing and who MIGHT in fact speak well of you. It may be of help to get some letters of support from people who have known you x, y or z years and know you have been a conscientious horse owner. A letter from your farrier? Short and sweet...I have knownxxxfor seven years and in my professional opinion...and also from friends with horses ... people down the lane...do you do any work for animal charities...do you foster cats/rabbits etc? I think as long as your vet backs you up you are going to be OK Rich. Try not to worry, but I know it's soul-destroying.
Great to hear from you again, hope it goes well.

Personally i think they are struggling to compile a case against you otherwise why leave it till now to try to gain more evidence?
Hope you are keeping well and keeping your chin up.
Jingsy.

Thanks folks
I have been informed today that they turned up today while I was at work to 'inspect' the fields, I had spoken to the inspector in question earlier on today and he don't say he was going the the field.
Where do I stand with this?

RichP wrote:Thanks folks
I have been informed today that they turned up today while I was at work to 'inspect' the fields, I had spoken to the inspector in question earlier on today and he don't say he was going the the field.
Where do I stand with this?

What were they hoping to gain from going there?
I would contact him and tell him you`re reporting them for trespassing. See what he says to that.
Jingsy.

I've called the call centre and left a message for the inspector to contact me.
This is a new inspector to the case, the original inspector has handed it over as she wasn't from the area, friends have said he has probably come to have a look as he's not seen the place before but I think there is something more sinister to it!

RichP wrote:I've called the call centre and left a message for the inspector to contact me.
This is a new inspector to the case, the original inspector has handed it over as she wasn't from the area, friends have said he has probably come to have a look as he's not seen the place before but I think there is something more sinister to it!

I still say they`re struggling for a case.
I know you can`t divulge on here but are the SHG helping you?

If i were you i think i would be asking what their game is.
The Inspector blatantly lied to you as regards this visit to your field. I also wonder where you stand on the trespass element as they were there without your knowing or permission.

Admin wrote:If i were you i think i would be asking what their game is.
The Inspector blatantly lied to you as regards this visit to your field. I also wonder where you stand on the trespass element as they were there without your knowing or permission.

Well, Rich, I agree with Admin and Jingsy. RSPCA know they have already spent/wasted money on your 'cruelty case', (vet call-out fee, post-mortem, and (?) removal of carcass to post-mortem and afterwards for disposal. PLUS of course RSPCA salaries). Now they are working on whether they can get a prosecution case together and when they don't I think you must get this episode in a local paper saying RSPCA once again throws away money donated by the public...people are getting sick of reading about their casual attitude to money. The amount they waste is a scandal. What I find more scandalous is the TIME they waste, time which could (and should) be spent on helping animals but never is.
And yes, if I were you I would ask the farmer what he thinks about the RSPCA trespassing on his land...they are normally quite sensitive about that sort of thing. As you say, something dodgy if he did not mention to you that he was going to the field when you spoke earlier the same day. maybe ask the farmer if he would like/allow you to put a sign on the gate "NO TRESPASSING. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, TELEPHONE 12434567". What are they actually looing for now? Any idea? And did they tell you what the PM results disclosed (you can PM that if you like when you know).
Poor you. Most of us on this site know what effect their bully-boy tactics have. Be positive tho...your vet sounds OK. She will be your biggest asset.

As Jingsy has raised the possibility .. Are they struggling to mount a case against you?
I say it`s imperative that you raise the question as to why they are revisiting your field. What are they looking for? Do they have alterior motives?
The previous Inspector says he wasn`t going to the field but did he know his colleagues were going there?
Too many things don`t really add up to anything of any sense.
As T says, get that No Trespassing sign on the gate and you have them something more to throw back.

Well apparently the inspector just wanted to see the place for himself as this case has been passed to him, so he hadn't seen the place or any pictures of it.
No PM results are back yet, whether that is true or not I don't know as its been five weeks now!

Can I ask what punishments members on here have received if you have been prosecuted?
I'm panicking now as I've never done anything wrong in my life and a criminal record now would totally ruin my life and career plans!
So worried!!

Rich. Please don`t panic.
I think things are coming down on your side but you need to find out what they are up to.
Can you pm me and Trilby Bee what the SHG has told you please. Confidentiality is assured from us both.

Have sent you rather a long PM Rich...think a PM can take ages if they do toxicology tests, also it is feasible that a new inspector who has taken over your case would take a look at the yard where your mare was kept. However, most farmers I have met would not take kindly to people waaandering in as and when they feel like it. Do you know if this new inspector has been quizzing other people at the yard?
Keep calm and see where they go from here. They have already spent megabucks on your case and will be wondering if they can recoup the money.

They have only contacted the person who reported me, the other two are my good friends and know the whole thing is a hate campaign against me and I'm not an animal abuser.

It's just so sickening, I'm going to see my doctor for some medication as I'm suffering panic attacks and can't sleep, it's just so scarey the whole thing.

You would think that the SHG would keep you "in the loop" wouldn`t you?
Jingsy.

Hi You can try this - I did it but they still took my animals, however........if they have been specifically told to keep out the POLICE need a warrant to enter the premises to allow the RSPCA to enter, if they do not get one then you will have a leg to stand on......if they come in.

I wouldnt say they are stuggling to make a case, they will take the full 5 1/2 months to issue a summons regarding charges and I think that can actually be taken from the time that the evidence was in their possession - ie if you dont give a statement for 4 months and something you say gives rise to a charge then the 6 month time limit will start from then. The longer they can draw this out the longer they can take to get the evidence and raise the charge. never underestimate them, they will find anything they can even slight, even nonsensical thats just the way they operate now. Bear in mind the criminal conviction has to be a) beyond reasonable doubt, and b) failing to do what a reasonable person woudl do in all the circumstances. I have never yet found them raising charges without stretching the maximum time limits the courts allow.

Good luck and keep us posted, some on the site have been through the rigors of these people before and they are worth listening to. Of those who speculate you should always err on the side of extreme caution. As previously said by other members, having spent so much already they will not want to give up! And in general the RSPCA staff are not friends or helpful. (Staff at animal shelters to my knowledge do not work for the RSPCA and do seem genuinely welfare minded - each one is independant and have to pay RSPCA for use of Logo!)

Hello again Rich


This is just a thought that came to me and I may have got this wrong...don't quote me on this one as I stand to be corrected. I understand that you have not received a summons yet and I hope you never do. BUT...I am fairly sure that when they (RSPCA) wrote to me saying I had been 'summonsed to court' there was a pararaph in the letter which suggested that if I could not afford a solicitor they (RSPCA) might pay for one. Now I know that sounds a bit cock-eyed and you would have to ask yourself whose side they would be on if RSPCA were paying them (by which I mean you would probably not trust them as far as you could throw them). ALSO...I sort of vaguely remember when I was being interrogated by the nice officer in her Gestapo uniform , she muttered something inaudible to that effect.
The fact is, with Legal Aid, they simply check on what you have coming in each month. They did not ask if I had school fees/mortgage/rent/outstanding debts I was paying off. So you might be turned down for Legal Aid (unless you are a terrorist in which case you will be OK and probably get a new custom-built six-bedroom detached house as compensation for hurt feelings) but still have very little ... in other words, they do not actually ask income and expenditure, only income. At least they did with me. Maybe Millie knows if this is true? I know she has been researching the whole procedure for some time now.
Hope things are going OK with you...did you get the autopsy results? Should not be longer than six weeks max.

From completing forms just days ago - it should take into account income and some types of expenditure, the levels are now very low but you could get something towards costs depending on net income etc -e if less than £8000 get 100% paid, £10000 pay 5% for example (figures are purely top of head not actual allowances) If receiving Jiob seekers etc get all paid. TYour solicitor will know this. RSPCA do not pay for solicitor but will pay for a second opinion vet of your choice to examine animals (I would also suggest that you ask police for attendance at the same time and go yourself since if the vet is being paid by the RSPCA who is to say what was said as opposed written at the time of the second exam) you have rights to be present under Section 21 of Police and Criminal Evidence Act - the Police have the possession of your animal not the RSPCA they only have care rights, RSPCA are supposed to abide by PACE as well but rarely do.

Legal Aid - I think also takes into account partners income and exps so thats to be wary of if partner earns a good salary!

Just wondered if anyone has heard from Rich P about his case...in particular whether he has heard the results of the post mortem on the mare. of course, if it was the RSPCA who had the pm done, he might not necessarily be informed of the results. Anyone maybe had a private mesage from him? He must have heard from them by now; at least I would have thtought so.

Have heard nothing. PM time i think.